A 6 page review of William Sheridan Allen’s book “The Nazi Seizure of Power: The Experiences of a Single German Town 1922-1945.” No additional sources cited.
Name of Research Paper File: JR7_RAnazisz.rtf
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upon thousands of people during WWII. In retrospect many people have also often been curious as to how the Nazi party gained such power in such a relatively short period
of time. It seems that in WWI Hitler possessed power to some extent, but not anything that would clearly indicate he was destined to become one of the most powerful,
if not also one of the most dangerous, leaders of all time. In William Sheridan Allens book "The Nazi Seizure of Power: The Experiences of a Single German Town 1922-1945"
he takes one particular town in Germany and examines, through the experiences of this particular town, how the Nazi regime gained power so quickly. He does not argue that this
towns experiences reflects those of all towns and thus answers all the questions regarding the rise in power, but through this town we can better see the simplistic, and yet
powerful, moves that ultimately led Hitler and the Nazis to possess such power and control over a nation. The following paper reviews this book, discussing Allens thesis, and three particular
points that appear relevant throughout the book regarding the Nazi rise to power. Thesis In the preface to his work Allen states his thesis, and illustrates well how
he does not expect this work to actually detail the experiences of all Germany, and all German towns, but that through examining one town and its individual society we can
learn a great deal about the general growth of the Nazi party. Allen states the following in relationship to his thesis for the work: "Nazi measures on a local level
were a key to the establishment the Third Reich in Germany. Before Hitler came to power he gained great support through the virtuosity and adaptability of his local party organizations.